By Daniel Edwards

The Millo idol was tempted with a move back to his boyhood club, but was afraid that he could not measure up to the success achieved in his first spell

River Plate legend HernanCrespo admitted that he passed up the chance to return to the Monumental, as he did not want to run the risk of failing on coming back to his first club.

The 36-year-old striker, who is currently unattached after ending his contract with Parma by mutual consent in 2012, began his professional career in Nunez with the Millo and quickly became a favourite.

During a three-year spell at River, Crespo lifted three Apertura titles and was also part of the team that won the 1996 CopaLibertadores.

Crespo has long been linked with a move back to Argentina and River, but he confessed on Wednesday that the pressure to succeed would be too much to bear.

"I have already achieved some brilliant things with River, and maybe I didn't have the balls to risk those successes," the veteran told Cadena 3.

Besides, I didn't feel up to representing the institution, physically or psychologically. The last thing I wanted was for someone to say that I had come to rob the club."

Crespo netted a total of 237 times during a long European career in England and Italy.